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Prince John’s Medieval Festival at PSU April 21

PLYMOUTH STATE UNIVERSITY will be hosting a Medieval festival on Sunday, April 21, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hartman Union Building on campus. COURTESY

PLYMOUTH — The student Medieval Society at Plymouth State University will present the second annual Prince John’s Medieval Festival, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., on April 21, with events both indoors and outside at the Hartman Union Building on High Street.

The event combines medievaland Renaissance-themed fun with historical information and demonstrations including medieval music arranged and performed by the PSU Panther Band, a labyrinth, a human chess game, a turkey-leg table hosted by Sodexo, a miniature trebuchet demonstration and a Japanese tea ceremony with the PSU Japanese Culture and Anime Club.

A highlight of the festival will be displays and demonstrations of life in medieval European cultures before the 17th century by a local branch of the Society for Creative Anachronism and the Guild of St. Maurice.

The guild recreates a military encampment and displays of the skills and life of a Landsknecht unit (mercenary soldiers and camp followers), and their wives and family members. Guild members spend the day demonstrating daily life activities such as cooking, woodworking, sewing and even practicing medicine. They also demonstrate the “newest in Renaissance military techniques” including drilling with 14-foot pikes, shooting matchlock muskets and sword and armor displays.

Magician Daniel Greenwolf will also be on hand throughout the day. Greenwolf brings more than 15 years of professional entertainment experience and prides himself on being engaging, theatrical, unique and energetic. Renaissance Festival Podcast and Renaissance Magazine have voted Greenwolf one of the top five solo variety acts in the United States for each of the last five years.

“We will have games from varying time periods, and possibly some that are modern with medieval influences,” said Ariel Couture, coordinator of the festival. “All time travelers are welcome, in costume and garb or everyday dress. Be sure to stop by our “market” and check out some period and period-inspired wares.”

The festival is sponsored in part by the student organization PACE (Programming Activities in a College Environment.